Top Ten Songs by U2
They have also managed to stay culturally relevant for over 25 years since the release of their debut record. U2 has seen many phases of their career come and go. With each phase new fans came on board and some old fans jumped ship. Each phase seemed to bring on millions of new fans in response to the very few that left.
U2 began as earnest kids from Ireland, became earnest nostalgias for Martin Luther King Jr. and American culture, turned 180 degrees as a European electronic/alt rock multimedia monster, the monster then took over on the underappreciated Pop, and everything came full circle back to four earnest guys from Ireland.
To narrow down U2 to just ten songs is to miss the overall quality of their work. You’ll be missing fantastic b-sides like “Trash, Trampoline, and the Party Girl”, and other “hidden” gems. They still make interesting records, at least when they take a few days off from trying to save the world.
“Out of Control” from Boy – The first single from U2’s debut album is actually a rare occurrence in their catalog. It is a driving rock song that can ignite a crowd without relying on emotional fervor. Just a good rock track.
“New Years Day” from War – The Edge punctuates Adam Clayton’s guttural bass riff with a memorable piano line. Bono croons about war or love; it’s hard to tell which it is. Like all great U2 songs it is ten times better in concert.
“Bad” from The Unforgettable Fire – An absolutely gorgeous melody from the Edge and the centerpiece to U2’s mid 80’s rise to “biggest band on the planet”. Their Live-Aid performance became one of the legendary moments of the day as the band played this song while Bono connected with the crowd.
“Where the Streets Have No Name” from The Joshua Tree – U2’s first monster album begins with this concert staple. Beautiful, honest and simple, this is the band at its soaring best.
“Bullet the Blue Sky” from The Joshua Tree – A complete anomaly to the U2 catalog. It seethes and scathes. The Edge channels Jimi Hendrix and uses sandpaper to line his guitar amps. It’s acid rock, with Bono’s most nihilistic lyric.
“With or Without You” from The Joshua Tree – This song literally throbs with heartache and misunderstanding. It can’t even be tarnished by the video of Bono holding a guitar that he can never be bothered to actually play.
“One” from Achtung Baby – In the last fifteen years U2 has used “One” as their go-to song. It’s misunderstood, Mary J. Blige over-sings it, and the praise it receives is often borderline irritating. It’s still the best thing they have ever done though.
“Until the End of the World” from Achtung Baby – Bono learned early that “God” and “You” could change a song from spiritual statement to a confession between lovers. That line is destroyed by this retelling of Judas’ betrayal.
“Stay (Faraway, So Close)” from Zooropa – In the long line of U2 ballads this is often overlooked. It captures the band at the crossroads of what they were and what they could be when they try just a little harder.
“City of Blinding Lights” from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb – Pop is an album that deserved better treatment. The backlash sent U2 back to where they started. Nothing hearkens back to vintage U2 better than this gloriously shiny highlight to their most recent album.
U2 have yet to make a disappointing record. That is asking quite a bit of our rock bands that at one time or another had that “biggest band on the planet” title.
